Chapter 154

• As she entered her house, she dropped her bag and peered into her dad's study. He was concentrating on something at his computer, but lifted his head when she appeared in his doorway.
• "Hey sugar," he said. He looked like he'd aged so much. He was only 38, but the stress lines around his face made him look like a beaten man. "How were Mike and that house full of women that he has to put up with?"
• Emily smiled, glad he still had some humour left. "He's good, about the same. His sisters have really come out of their shells though, especially Beth. Mike's the same nice guy he always has been."